r~ 


Longstreet's  Charge 
at  Gettysburg,  Pa. 


Pickett fs,  Pettigrew's  and  Trimbles' 
Divisions. 


Historical  Mssay 


By 


James  L  Metts, 

Ca.pt.  Co.  "G"  3dN.  C.  Infantry, 
and  Asst.  Insp.  Gen'l.  Bryan  Grimes'  Staff. 


MORNING    STAR     PRINT, 
WILMINGTON,    N.   C. 


Longstreet's  Charge 
at  Gettysburg,  Pa. 


Pickett's,  Pettigrew's  and  Trimbles' 
Divisions. 


Historical  Essay 


By 


James  I.  Metts, 

Capt.  Co.  "G"  ?dU.  C.  Infantry, 
and  Asst.  Insp.  Gen'l.  Bryan  Grimes'  Staff. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2013 


http://archive.org/details/fongstreetschargOOmett 


Longstreet's  Charge 
....  at  Gettysburg  .... 


Pickett's, 
Pettigrew's 

and 
Trimbles' 
Divisions. 


A  certain  set  of  historians,  writers 
and  lecturers,  who  gathered  their  in- 
formation from  newspapers  in  Rich- 
mend  who  had  their  correspondents 
with  the  Virginia  troops  in  the  army 
of  Northern  Virginia  during  the  war — 
and  they  so  biased  as  to  claim  all  the 
glory  for  the  Virginians  to  the  detri- 
ment of  other  troops  engaged  have 
so  persistently  flirted  with  the  truth 
that  those  unacquainted  with  the  facts 
having  read  their  fine  descriptions  and 
heard  their  grand  eloquence,  accept 
their  statements  of  Longstreet's, 
falsely  called  Fickett's  charge,  at  Get- 
tysburg en  the  third  day,  as  the  truth 
of  history. 

Those  who  love  truth  rather  than 
fiction,  I  respectfully  refer  to  the  offi- 
cial government  diagram  of  the  charge, 
showing  that  the  Confederate  and 
Federal  lines  of  battle,  the  stone  wall 
or  works  of  the  Federals  on  Cemetery 
Ridge,  the  Emmettsburg  road,  and  the 
different  fences  ever  which  Pettigrew 
and  Trimble's  troops  had  to  pass  be- 
fore reaching  the  works. 

To   the   list  of   the   different   troops 

l  engaged,  taken  from  war  records.  Pick- 
ett's division,  composed  of  Kemper's, 
Garnet's  and  Armistead's  brigades, 
Gen.  Kemper's  brigade  on  the  right, 
composed  of  the  following:   The  First, 

.  Third,  Seventh,  11th  and  24th  Virginia 
regiments.  On  their  left  was  Garnett's 
brigade,  composed  of  the  following: 
The  Eighth,  18th,  19th.  28th  and  56th 
Virginia  regiments.  Supporting  Kem- 
per and  Garnett  was  Armistead's  bri- 
gade, viz:  The  9th,  14th,  38th,  53rd 
and  57th  Virginia  regiments.  Gen. 
Heth's   division   (Gen.  Johnston   Petti- 

^  grew,    commanding)    formed    the    left 

"^  of  the  line,  composed  of  Archer's,  Pet- 


tigrew's,  Davis'  and  Brockenborough's 
brigades.  Archer's  brigade,  (Col.  B.  D. 
Fry,  after  wound  Col.  J.  G.  Shepard, 
commanding)  joined  the  left  of  Gar- 
nett's brigade,  as  follows:  The  5th 
and  13th  Alabama  regiments,  and  the 
1st,  7th  and  14th  Tennessee  regi- 
ments. 

On  their  left  was  Pettigrew's  bri- 
gade (Col.  Marshall,  commanding,  af- 
terward killed,  then  by  Col.  J.  Jones), 
viz:  The  11th,  26th,  47th  and  52nd 
North  Carolina  regiments.  On  their 
left  came  Gen.  J.  R.  Davis'  brigade 
viz:  The  2nd,  11th  and  42nd  regiments 
of  Mississippi,  and  the  55th  North  Car 
olina  regiment.  On  its  left  was  Gen 
Brockenbcrough's  brigade  (Col.  Rob 
ert  Mayo,  commanding),  viz:  The  40th 
47th  and  55th  Virginia  regiments  and 
the  22nd  battalion.  Supporting  Gen 
Pettigrew's  line  were  Gen.  Scales'  and 
Gen.  Lane's  brigades,  (Maj.  Gen.  L 
R.  Trimble  commanding),  from  Pen 
der's  division  with  Scales'  brigade 
(Col.  L.  S.  J.  Lowrance,  commanding) 
on  the  right,  composed  of  the  13th 
16th,  22nd,  38th  and  34th  North  Caro 
lina  regiments.  On  its  left  was  Gen 
Lane's  brigade,  viz:  The  7th,  18th 
2Sth,  and  33rd  and  37th  North  Caro 
lina  regiments. 

(See  the  War  Records,  series  1,  vol 
87,  containing  the  reports  of  Maj.  J 
A.  Englehard,  Ass.-Adj.  Gen.  Heth's 
division,  (Gen.  L.  R.  Trimble  com- 
manding), 556,  552,  Col.  S.  G.  Shepard 
commanding  Archer's  brigade  No.  550. 
Maj.  J.  Jones,  commanding  Pettigrew's 
brigade  No.  553  Brig.  Gen.  Joseph  R. 
Davis,  558,  Brig.  Gen.  James  H.  Lane, 
No.  561  Col.  W.  L.  J.  Lowrance  com- 
manding, Scales'  brigade.) 

(Also  Moore's  History  of  North  Car- 


olina,  beginning  at  Page  200,  with 
Gen.  Robert  E.  Lee's  report,  Brig. 
Gen.  Jas.  H.  Lane's  letter,  page  2u2. 
Gen.  L.  R.  Trimble's  letter,  page  203. 
Jos.  H.  Sanders'  letter,  major  33rd 
North  Carolina  infantry  W.  C.  Mor- 
ris, lieutenant  colonel  37th  North  Car- 
olina infantry.  S.  D.  Lowe,  colonel 
commanding  28th  North  Carolina  in- 
fantry. E.  F.  Lovell's,  captain  28th 
North  Carolina  infantry.  Thomas  L. 
Norwood's  captain  Company  A,  37th 
infantry.  J.  McLeod  Turner,  lieuten- 
ant coloned  Seventh  North  Carolina 
infantry.  Maj.  J.  G.  Harriss  and  many 
others.) 

From  all  accounts  it  appears  to  have 
been  a  very  curious  line  of  battle,  as 
Gen.  Pickett's  divisions  started  about 
100  yards  to  the  west  of  the  Emmetts- 
burg  road  sheltered  by  a  ridge  which 
Southern  troops  had  occupied  the  day 
previous  and  about  1,000  yards  from 
the  enemy's  stone  wall  and  works, 
while  Gen.  Pettigrew's  division,  Trim- 
bel's  division  supporting,  started  from 
Seminary  Ridge  (near  the  artillery), 
1,360  yards  from  the  enemy's  works. 
The  Emmettsburg  road  in  front  of 
Fettigrew  was  occupied  by  Federal 
troops,  and  about  100  yards  from  the 
works  or  stone  wall  also  occupied  by 
the  .Federals.  Thus  compelling  Petti- 
grew's and  Trimbel's  men  to  advance 
in  the  open  field  a  much  greater  dis- 
tance to  drive  the  enemy  from  the  Em- 
mettsburg road  and  a  fence  on  a  line 
with  the  low  wall  in  Pickett's  front 
before  reaching  the  stone  wall  on  a 
small  steep  slope,  which  was  the 
height  of  a  man's  chin,  and  80  yards 
farther  than  the  wall,  about  three  feet 
high  in  Pickett's  front,  subjecting  them 
to  the  fearful  artillery  and  infantry 
fire  of  the  enemy  for  at  least  360  yards 
further  in  open  field  than  Pickett's. 

They,  however,  accomplished  this, 
and  some  men  of  Archer's,  Pettigrew's 
Scales'  and  the  left  of  Garnett's  and 
Armisteads  brigades  went  over  the 
works  in  the  angle  where  Armistead 
was  killed,  while  Davis,  Lane's  and 
Pettigrew's,  with  Archer's  and  Petti- 
grew's charged  to  the  wall  in  their 
front,  driving  the  enemy  from  behind 
it,  and  the  cannonneers  from  their 
guns,  only  falling  back  when  flanked 
by  the  enemy  on  both  flanks.  Brack- 
enboroughs  brigade  having  failed  to 
come  up  on  the  left,  and  Pickett's  di- 
vision to  held  their  position  on  the 
right. 

Maj.  J.  A.  Englehard,  adjutant  gen- 


eral  of  Gen.   Pender's   division,   says: 

"The  point  at  which  the  troops  with 
me  struck  the  enemy's  works  project- 
ed farthest  to  the  front.  I  recollect 
well,  my  horse  having  been  shot,  I 
leaned  my  elbow  upon  one  of  the  guns 
of  the  enemy  to  rest,  and  watched  with 
painful  anxiety  the  fight  on  Pickett's 
right,  for  on  their  success  meant  the 
tenableness  of  our  position.  Surround- 
ing me  were  soldiers  of  Trimble's,  of 
Pettigrew's  and  of  Pickett's  division, 
and  it  required  all  the  resources  at 
my  command  to  prevent  their  follow- 
ing en  masse  the  retreating  enemy, 
and  seme  did  go  so  far  that  when  we 
were  compelled  to  withdraw  they  were  c 
unable  to  reach  our  lines,  the  enemy 
closing  in  from  the  right  and  left.  We 
remained  in  quiet  and  undisputed  pos- 
session of  the  enemy's  work,  the  men, 
flushed  with  victory,  eager  to  press  '"■ 
forward." 

Col.  S.  G.  Shepard,  of  Seventh  Ten- 
nessee regiment,  commanding  Archer's 
Brigade,  says: 

"First  Tennessee  on  the  right,  on 
its  left  the  13th  Alabama,  the  14th 
r.nd  7th  Tennessee  and  the  Fifth  Ala- 
bama battalion.  The  space  oi  few 
hundred  yards  between  Archer's  bri- 
gade and  Picket's  division  was  filled 
as  we  advanced  and  by  the  time  we 
had  gone  a  little  over  half  way,  by 
Pickett's  bearing  to  the  left.  The 
command  was  then  passed  down  the 
line  by  the  officers,  'guide  right'!  The 
enemy  held  their  fire  until  we  were 
in  fine  range,  and  opened  upon  us  a 
terrible  and  well  directed  fire.  With- 
in ISO  to  200  yards  of  his  works,  we 
came  to  a  lane  enclosed  by  two  stout 
post  and  plank  fences.  This  was  a 
very  great  obstruction,  but  the  men 
rushed  over  as  fast  as  they  could  and 
advanced  directly  upon  the.  enemy's 
works,  the  first  line  of  which  was  corn- 
Dosed  of  rough  stones.  The  enemy 
abandoned  this,  but  just  in  the  rear  -j* 
was  massed  a  heavy  force.  By  the  \ 
time  we  had  reached  this  work,  our 
lines  all  along,  as  far  as  I  could  see, 
had  become  very  much  weakened;  in-  . 
deed,  the  line,  right  and  left  as  far  as  <J 
I  could  observe,  seemed  to  melt  away 
until  there  was  but  little  left.  Those 
who  remained  at  the  works  saw  it  was 
a  hopeless  case  and  fell  back. 

"Archer's  brigade  remained  at  the 
works  fighting,  as  long  as  any  other 
troops  either  on  the  right  or  left,  so 
far  as  I  could  observe. 

"Every  flag  of  the  brigade,  excepting 


one,  was  captured  at  or  within  the 
works  of  the  enemy.  The  First  Ten- 
nessee had  three  color  bearers  shot 
down,  the  last  of  whom  was  at  the 
works,  and  the  flag  captured.  The  13th 
Alabama  lost  three  in  the  same  way, 
the  last  of  whom  was  shot  down  at 
the  works.  The  14th  Tennessee  had 
four  shot  down,  the  last  of  whom 
was  at  the  works.  The  Seventh  Ten- 
nessee had  three  of  her  color  bearers 
killed,  the  last  of  whom  was  at  the 
enemy's  works  and  the  flag  was  only 
saved  by  Capt.  (A.  D.)  Norris  tearing 
it  away  from  the  staff  and  bringing  it 
away  under  his  coat.  The  Fifth  Alaba- 
ma battalion  also  lost  their  flag  at  the 
enemy's  works.  There  were  seven 
field  officers  who  went  into  the  charge 
of  whoim  only  two  came  out.  The  rest 
were  all  wounded  and  captured.  The 
loss  in  company  officers  and  men  was 
also  heavy. 

Joseph  H.  Saunders,  the  major  com- 
manding 33rd  North  Carolina  infantry, 
says: 

"I  went,  by  subsequent  measure,  to 
within  about  60  yards  of  the  stone  wall 
where  I  was  wounded  and  remained 
till  the  next  day,  when  I  was  taken 
from  the  field  by  the  enemy.  Just  be- 
fore I  was  shot,  I  distinctly  remember 
seeing  a  Yankee  color  bearer  just  in 
front  of  the  left  of  the  regiment  get 
up  and  run  away  trailing  his  flag  and 
followed  by  his  regiment;  so  that 
there  was  nothing  to  keep  our  regi- 
ment from  going  into  the  enemy  s 
ranks.  I  was  shot  by  the  troops  on 
the  left,  mentioned  by  Gen.  Lane  in 
his  report.  At  the  time  I  was,  by  di- 
rection of  Col.  Avery,  acting  as  left 
guide  to  the  line  of  battle,  directing 
the  line  of  march  more  to  the  right, 
so  as  to  strike  the  enemy's  works  in 
a  straight  line.  I  see  from  the  Vir- 
ginian that  Capt.  Young  states  Lane 
and  Scales'  brigades  did  not  reach  the 

*  point  attained  by  Pettigrew's.  As  to 
this  point  I  can  be  perfectly  positive 
as  we  overtook  the  first  line,  and  the 
two   lines   then   became   one,   and   the 

\  advance  was  continued.  There  can 
be  no  mistake  about  this." 
Gen.  Joseph  R.  Davis  says: 
"For  two  hours  the  artillery  fire  was 
heavy  and  incessant.  It  (the  division) 
was  immediately  in  the  rear  of  our 
batteries  and  with  no  protection;  we 
suffered  some  losses.  In  Davis'  bri- 
gade two  men  were  killed  and  20 
wounded.     After   the    artillery   ceased 


the  division  moved  forward,  pressing 
to  the  right  on  Pickett's  division.  Not 
a  shot  was  fired  at  us  until  we  reach- 
ed a  strong  post  and  rail  fence  about 
three-fourths  of  a  mile  from  the  ene- 
my's position,  when  we  were  met  by  a 
heavy  fire  of  grape,  cannister  and 
shell,  which  told  badly  upon  our  ranks. 

"Under  this  destructive  fire,  which 
commanded  our  front  and  left  with 
fatal  effect,  the  troops  displayed  great 
coolness,  were  well  in  hand  and  moved 
steadily  forward,  regularly  closing  up 
the  gaps  made  in  their  ranks.  Our 
advance  across  the  field  was  inter- 
rupted by  other  fences  of  a  similar 
character  in  crossing  which  the  align- 
ment became  more  or  less  deranged. 
This  was  in  each  case  promptly  recti- 
fied and  though  its  ranks  were  grow- 
ing thinner  at  every  step,  this  division 
'moved  steadily  on  in  line  with  other 
troops  on  the  right. 

"When  within  musket  range,  we  en- 
countered a  heavy  fire  of  small  arms, 
from,  which  we  suffered  severely;  but 
this  did  not  for  a  moment  check  the 
advance.  The  right  of  the  division, 
owing  to  the  conformation  of  the  ridge 
on  which  the  enemy  was  posted,  hav- 
ing a  shorter  distance  to  pass  over  to 
reach  his  first  line  of  denfense,  en- 
countered him  first  in  close  conflict; 
but  the  .whole  division  dashed  up  to 
his  first  line  of  defense,  a  stone  wall 
behind  which  the  opposing  infantry 
were  strongly  posted.  Here  we  were 
subjected  to  a  most  galling  fire  of 
musketry  and  artillery,  that  so  reduc- 
ed the  already  thin  ranks  that  further 
effort  to  carry  the  position  was  hope- 
less, and  there  was  nothing  left  to  do 
but  retire  to  the  position  originally 
held,  which  was  done  in  more  or  less 
confusion.  The  coolness  of  officers 
and  men  was  worthy  of  high  commen- 
dation." 

Major  J.  Jones,  commanding  Petti- 
grew's brigade,  says: 

"About  2  o'clock  on  the  third  we 
were  ordered  to  advance.  There  was 
an  open  field  in  front  about  three- 
fourths  of  a  mile  wide.  In  starting  off, 
there  was  some  confusion  in  the  line, 
owing  to  the  fact  that  we  had  been 
ordered  to  close  in  on  the  right  on 
Pickett's  division  and  that  command 
gave  way  to  the  left.  This  was  soon 
corrected  and  the  distance  was  made 
in  perfect  order.  When  about  half 
across  the  intervening  space,  the  ene- 
my opened  on  us  a  most  destructive 


fire  of  grape  and  cannister  and  when 
within  about  250  or  300  yards  of  the 
stone  wall  behind  which  the  enemy 
was  posted,  we  were  met  with  a  per- 
fect shower  of  lead  from  their  small 
arms.  The  brigade  dashed  on  and 
many  had  reached  the  wall  when  we 
were  met  by  a  volley  from  the  left. 
The  whole  line  on  the  left  had  given 
away,  and  we  were  being  rapidly  flank- 
ed. With  our  thinned  ranks  and  in 
such  a  position  it  would  have  been 
folly  to  stand  against  such  odds.  We, 
Therefore,  fell  back  to  our  original  po- 
sition. But  one  field  officer  was  left 
in  the  brigade.  Regiments  that  went 
in  with  colonels  came  out  commanded 
by  lieutenants." 

Gen.  L.  R.  Trimble  says: 

''When  the  charge  commenced,  about 
3      P.      M.,     I     followed      Pettigrew's 
(Heth's)    division,   about  150  yards  in 
the  rear,  a  sufficient  distance  to  pre- 
vent adverse  fire  raking  both  ranks  as 
we  marched  down  the  slope.     Notwith- 
standing the  loses  as  we  advanced,  the 
men  marched  with  deliberation  and  ac- 
curacy of  men  on  drill.    I  observed  the 
same  in  Pettigrew's  lines.     When  the 
latter  was  within  150  yards  of  the  Em- j 
mettsburg   road   they   seemed   to   sink  I 
into*  the   earth   under   the   tempest   of  I 
fire    poured    into    them.      We    passed ; 
over    the    remnant   of    their    line,    and  j 
immediately  some  one  close  by  my  left ! 
sung    out,    'Three    cheers    for    the    Old 
North  State,'  when  both  brigades  set  j 
up  a  hearty  shout,  en  which  I  said  to 
any  aid.  'Charley,  I  believe  those  fine  | 
fellows    are    going   into    the      enemy's  i 
line'." 

Lieut.  Col.  W.  C.  Morris  says: 
"Soon  after  we  emerged  from  the 
woods  Davis'  brigade,  in  front  of  us,  j 
became  engaged  with  the  enemy,  but  j 
being  exposed  to  a  heavy  flanking  fire, 
both  of  infantry  and  artillery,  was 
forced  to  fall  back.  We  were  then  or- 
dered to  double  quick.  Soon  Petti- 
grew's and  Archer's  brigades  became 
engaged  in  front  and  on  our  right. 
About  the  time  Pettigrew's  and  Arch- 
er's brigades  became  engaged  1  could 
see  our  men  on  the  extreme  right  fal- 
ling back.  Pettigrew's  and  Archer's 
men  reached  the  works  a  little  in  ad- 
vance of  us,  and  succeeded  in  driv- 
ing the  enemv  from  his  works  imme- 
diatelv  in  their  front,  but  were  exposed 
to  a  flanking  fire  both  right  and  left. 
Thev  laid  down,  some  in  the  road  and 
some  on  the  crest  of  the  hill  near  the 


stone  fence,  and  beckoned  to  us  to 
come  on.  Gen.  Trimble  then  ordered 
us  to  charge  the  enemy's  works  in  our 
front.  The  order  was  promptly  obey- 
ed and  here  Gen.  Trimble  was  wound- 
ed. About  the  time  the  right  of  our 
brigade  made  this  charge,  Gen.  Lane 
changed  direction  to  the  left,  which 
caused  the  separation  of  the  Seventh 
regiment  and  all  on  the  right  of  the 
colors  of  the  37th  in  the  brigade.  We 
drove  the  enemy  in  front  of  us  from 
his  position  in  the  road,  then  from  be- 
hind the  stone  fence  and  held  his  po- 
sition for  at  least  half  an  hour.  Right 
here,  between  the  road  "and  the  stone 
fence  (the  enemy  having  disappeared 
in  our  front)  we  became  engaged  with 
a  flanking  party  on  our  left  and  were 
soon  surrounded  and  captured.  Six 
soldiers  on  the  right  of  my  line  were  l 
wounded  in  the  enemy's  works  and 
captured.  Among  the  number  was  the 
lamented  Lieut.  Battle,  whose  wound 
proved  fatal.  Lieut.  Horton  was  shot 
through  the  left  lung.  I  was  lieuten- 
ant colonel  of  the  37th  regiment.  Pet- 
tigrew's and  Archer's  brigades  remain- 
ed longest  on  our  right.  Pickett's  di- 
vision did  not  go  further  than  our 
command." 

Capt.  E.  F.  Lovell  says: 
"I  was  captain  of  Company  A,  28th 
North    Carolina    infantry.      Our    regi- 
ment  captured  a  part  of  the  enemy's 
works    ard    held    them    a    short   time. 
Some   of  my  men   were  wounded   and 
captured  inside  the  enemy's  works." 
Cant.  W.  R.  Bond  says: 
"The  Tennessee  brigade  suffered  se- 
verely, but  the  courage  of  its  survivors 
was    unimpaired.      There    were    three 
Mississippi    regiments    in    Davis'    bri- 
gade,   which    between    them    had    141 
men  killed  on  the  field.    Pickett's  dead 
numbered  not  quite  15  to  the  regiment. 
The  five  North  Carolina  regiments  of. 
Pettigrew's    division    bore    with    forti- 
tude   a    loss    of   229    killed.      Pickett's 
15th  Virginia  regiments  were   fearful- 
ly demoralized  by.  a  loss  of  224  killed. 
Virginia  and  North  Carolina  had  each  , 
about  the  same  number  of  infantry  in  * 
this    batle.      Virginia    had    375    killed. 
North  Carolina  696.     Less  than  50  of 
Pickett's   men    followed    Armistead   to 
the    abandoned    eun.      On    July    5.    as 
Lieut.    Col.   Charles   H.   Morgan,   chief 
of   Gen.   Hancock's   staff,     and      Capt. 
Hazard  rode  over  the  field  in  front  of 
Smythe's  brigade,  Col.  Morgan  said  to 
|  Hazard:  'They  mav  talk  as  thev  please 
'  about    the    hard    fighting    in    front    of 


Gibbon,  but  there  are  more  dead  men 
here  than  anywhere  in  our  front.'  To 
this  conclusion  Hazard  assented. 

"The  stone  wall  ran  from  the  left 
and  in  front  of  Lane's,  Davis'  and  Pet- 
tigrew's  North  Carolina  brigades  and 
ended  where  the  right  of  the  last  nam- 
ed rested  at  the  close  of  the  assault." 

Col.  L.  J.  Lowrance,  34th  North  Car- 
olina infantry,  commanding  Scales' 
brigade,  says: 

"I  joined  on  the  right  of  Gen.  Lane's 
brigade  on  the  second  line,  under 
Gen.  Trimble's  command,  in  the  rear 
,  of  Pogue's  artillery.  Here  we  remain- 
ed at  least  an  hour,  under  a  most  gal- 
ling fire  of  artillery,  which,  I  am  proud 
to  say,  the  men  endured  with  the  cool- 
cess  and  determined  spirit  of  veterans, 
I  for  such  they  are.  Then  we  were  or- 
dered forward  over  a  wide,  hot  and 
already  crimson  field  of  slain.  We  ad- 
vanced upon  the  enemy's  line,  which 
was  in  full  view,  at  a  distance  of  one 
mile.  Now  their  whole  line  of  artil- 
lery was  playing  on  us,  which  was  on 
an  eminance  in  our  front,  strongly 
fortified  and  supported  by  infantry. 
While  we  were  thus  advancing  many 
fell,  but  I  saw  but  few  in  that  hazard- 
ous hour  who  tried  to  shrink  duty.  All 
went  forward  with  a  cool  and  steady 
step,  but  ere  we  had  advanced  over 
two-thirds  of  the  way  troops  from  the 
front  came  tearing  through  our  ranks, 
which  caused  many  of  our  men  to 
break;  with  the  remaining  we  went 
forward  until  the  right  of  the  brigade 
touched  the  enemy's  line  of  breast- 
works, as  we  marched  in  rather  an  ob- 
lique line.  Now  the  pieces  in  our  front 
were  all  silenced.  Here  many  were 
shot  down,  being  thus  exposed  to  a 
heavy  fire  of  grape  and  musketry  up- 
on our  right  flank. 

"Now  all  had  apparently  forsaken 
us.  The  two  brigades  (now  reduced 
•  f  to  mere  squads  not  numbering  in  all 
800  men)  were  the  only  lines  to  be 
seen  upon  that  vast  field  and  no  sup- 
port in  view.  The  brigade  retreated." 
V  Col.  S.  D.  Lowe,  28th  North  Carolina 
infantry,   says: 

"We  advanced  about  a  mile,  start- 
ing just  in  rear  of  Pettigrew's  left, 
which  brigade  closing  and  dressing  to 
the.  right,  we  to  the  left,  in  less  than 
half  the  distance  uncovered  us  and 
left  our  front  line  over  300  yards  from 
the  enemy's  works.  I  received  a  wound 
•from  a  minnie  ball  and  was  carried 
to  the  rear.    They  were  old  veterans — 


true  men,  and  of  their  own  accord 
would  not  walk  up  merely  to  throw 
down  their  guns  'for  the  war.'  I  think 
about  one-third  of  our  casualties  were 
killed,  the  remainder  wounded.  My 
men  never  fought  better  than  on  that 
field." 

Lieut.  Thomas  L.  Norwood,  Compa- 
ny A,  37th  North  Carolina  regiment, 
says: 

"I  was  first  lieutenant,  Company  A, 
37th  North  Carolina  troops,  Lane's 
brigade  (Gen.  Lane  in  command), 
Pender's  division  (Gen.  Trimble  com- 
manding). My  command,  i.e.,  my  own 
company,  and,  as  far  as  I  observed, 
the  whole  regiment  and  brigade,  ad- 
vanced firmly  and  cheerfully  to  within 
30  yards  of  the  enemy's  works,  where 
:he  encountered  a  plank  fence.  Sever- 
al officers,  myself  among  the  number, 
sprang  over  the  fence,  followed  by  the 
whole  command,  so  far  as  I  know. 
The  cannoneers  then  left  their  guns. 
I  rushed  forward,  thinking  the  day 
o:rs,  and  when  within  20  yards  of  the 
enemy's  works,  was  called  by  Lieut. 
Mickle,  who  told  me  that  our  line  had 
aHen  back.  Just  then  he  and  I,  and 
Lieut.  Rcyster  (the  only  other  man 
that  I  remember  seeing  so  near  the 
works)  were  shot  down.  I  know  not 
by  whose  orders  the  retreat  took  place. 
"Mickle  and  Royster  were  killed.  I 
was  dragged  over  the  breastworks  by 
a  Federal  sergeant,  where  I  found  sev- 
eral prisoners  from  different  com- 
mands, but  do  not  kno-w  when  or  how 
they  got  there,  as  I  soon  fainted." 

Capt.  D.  M.  Mclntyre,  acting  adju- 
tant general  of  Scales'  brigade,  says: 

"My  brigade  went  into  the  enemy's 
works." 

H.  L.  Guerrant  says: 

"Scales'  brigade  entered  the  breast- 
works and  remained  there  until  driven 
out  by  the  enemy's  advancing  their 
flanks."  thus  fully  sustaining  Gen. 
Trimble   and  Maj.  Englehard. 

Gen.  James  H.  Lane  says: 

"My  command  never  moved  forward 
more  handsomely.  The  men  reserved 
their  fire  in  accordance  with  orders, 
until  within  godd  range  of  the  enemy, 
and  then  opening  with  telling  effect, 
driving  the  cannoneers  from  their 
pieces,  completely  silencing  the  guns 
in  our  immediate  front  and  breaking 
the  line  of  infantry  on  the  crest  of  the 
hill." 


Capt.  B.  F.  Little,  Company  E,  52nd 
North  Carolina  regimem,  says: 

"I  was  shot  when  about  50  feet  from 
the  enemy's  works,  and  the  ground  be- 
tween the  enemy's  works  and  where  I 
lay  was  thickly  strewn  with  killed  and 
wounded,  some  of  them  having  fallen 
immediately  at  the  works.  I  do  not 
think  a  single  one  ever  got  back  to  the 
rear,  except  tbose  who  were  slightly 
wounded  before  they  got  to  the  place 
where  I  was  wounded.  And  such  was 
the  case  with  the  companies  on  either 
side  of  my  company.  When  I  was  tak- 
en prisoner  and  borne  to  the  rear  I 
passed  over  their  works  and  found 
Some  of  my  men  killed  and  wounded 
immediately  in  the  works." 

Col.  Swallow  says: 

"Pettigrew's  brigade,  now  united 
with  Archer's  brigade,  which  had  not 
entered  the  fortifications,  attacked  the 
enemy  with  a  most  desperate  determi- 
nation. While  the  writer  lay  wounded 
with  Gen.  S  my  the  of  Hays'  division, 
at  Gettysburg,  that  officer  told  him 
that  Pettigrew's  brigade  was  within 
30  feet  of  his  line  and  fought  with  a 
determination  that  he  had  never  seen 
equaled."  (Gen.  Hays'  division  occu- 
pied the  left  half  of  the  rock  wall  as- 
saulted on  Cemetery  Heights). 

"When  Gen.  Trimble  fell  he  sent  a 
staff  officer  to  tell  Gen  Lare  he  was 
wounded.,  and  added:  'Tell  Lane  that  if 
these  North  Carolinians  that  I  had  the 
honor  to  lead  can't  take  these  works, 
all  hell  could  rot  do  it.' 

"Just  before  Trimble  took  command 
of  these  troops  he  was  a  stranger  to 
them  and  they  to  him.  Their  beloved 
Pender  had  been  carried  off  the  field 
the  day  before. 

"Gen.  Lane  remained  fighting  for 
some  time  after  Pickett  left  the  field. 
It  has  been  wondered  why  Pettigrew 
lost  so  many  more  men  than  Pickett. 
The  answer  is  this:  Every  cannon  had 
been  dismounted  but  one  piece  by  the 
concentrated  fire  of  Alexander's  guns 
in  Pickett's  front,  while  in  Pettigrew's 
front  were  massed  three  batteries,  six 
guns  each,  18  cannon  in  all.  These 
batteries  played  sad  havoc  in  Petti- 
grew's brigade.  The  grape,  cannister 
and  shrapnel  cut  great  gaps  in  their 
line,  but  undismayed  the  men  pressed 
on,  climbing  two  high  post  fences  in 
the  charge  to  the  stone  wall.  Gen 
Pettigrew  received  a  grape  shot 
through  bis  left  hand,  but  did  not  leave 


the  field  until  the  charge  had  failed. 
He  rode  up  to  Gen.  Lee  and  saluted. 
Gen.  Lee  then  went  to  him  and  asked, 
him  if  he  was  hurt. 

When  Gen.  Pettigrew's  division  was 
selected,  Gens.  Longstreet  and  Lee 
thought  it  had  recuperated  from  the 
first  day's  fight,  but  "tney  were  terri- 
bly mistaken,"  says  Col.  Venable,  of 
Lee's  staff.  These  troops  were  very 
much  cut  up. 

Just  before  the  assault,  Gen.  Lee 
rode  past  Scales'  brigade  and  asked, 
"What   brigade   is  this^" 

Gen.   Trimble  replied,   "It  is   Scales'      < 
North  Carolina." 

Gen.  Lee  looked  mournfully  at  the 
column  and  said:  "I  miss  many  faces 
here  today.'  / 

Gen.  Scales  had  been  taken  off  the 
field  in  the  first  day  s  fight,  and  every 
regimental  officer.  4s  Lee  started  off 
jhe  added,  "Tbese  poor  fellows  ought 
to  go  to  the  rear." 

Many  of  them  had  their  heads  tied 
up  and  their  hands  tied  up  as  they 
stood  in  line.  Yet  these  brave  fellows 
went  to  the  stone  wall  in  the  fight  and 
entered  the  works. 

In  the  charge,  Lieut.  Col.  Gordon,  of 
the  34th  North  Carolina,  and  the  Brit- 
ish army,  but  who  had  united  his  for- 
tunes with  those  of  the  Confederacy 
was  severely  wounded  nefore  reaching 
the  stone  wail  and  borne  from  the 
field.  When  the  litter  bearers  reached 
the  brigade  hospital,  Gen.  Scales  anx- 
iously inquired  of  Gordon,  "How  goes 
the  battle.  What  is  the  character  of 
the  fighting."  Gordon  exclaimed.  "The 
charge  at  Balaklava  is  a  damned  hum- 
bug, a  damned  humbug,  sir." 

"It  is  said  there  is  a  plank  in  posses- 
sion of  the  Pennsylvania  Historical  So- 
ciety, taken  from  the  high  post  fene& 
over  which  Scales'  men  charged.  This 
plank  is  16  feet  long,  14  inches  wide 
and  contains  800  bullet  holes. 

Gen.  Longs'.reet  says: 

"The  signal  guns  were  fired,  and  all 
the  batteries  opened  vu-y  handsomely 
and  apparently  with  effective  fire.  The 
guns  on  the  bill  at  the  enemy's  left 
(in  Pickett's  front)  were  silenced. 
These  at  the  Cemetery  Hill  combat- 
ted  us,  however,  very  obstinately. 
Many  of  them  were  driven*  off,  but 
fresh  ones  were  brougbi  up  to  replace 
them,"  these  guns  were  in  Pettigrew's 
and    Trimble's   front.     "Pickett's   men 


were  sheltered  for  son  e  distance,  af- 
ter the  advance  commenced,  with  the 
batteries  in  their  front  silenced,  while 
Pettigrews  and  Trimble's  division 
caught  -i  fearxul  fire  almost  from  the 
start." 

Col.  Frye,  who  led  Archer's  brigade 
says: 

"I  heard  Garnett  give  a  command. 
Seeing  his  gesture  oil  inquiry,  I  called 
out,  'I  am  dressing  on  you.'  A  few  sec- 
onds later  he  fell  dead.  A  moment  lat- 
er a  shot  through  my  ihigh  prostrat- 
ed me.  The  smoke  soon  became  so 
dense  that  I  could  see  but  little  of 
what  was  going  on  on  the  left  (refer- 
ring to  a  brigade  which  had  just  given 
away.)  All  the  regimental  colors  of 
my  command  reached  the  line  of  the 
j  enemy's  works,  and  many  of  my  offi- 
cers and  men  were  killed  while  pas- 
sing over  it." 

Casualties  in  Hetb's  division. 

Archer's  brigade,  Fifth  and  13th 
Alabama,  also  First.  Seventh  and  14th 
Tennessee  provisional  army,  killed  16, 
wounded  144;  total  36t 

Pettigrew's  brigade,  nth,  26th,  47th, 
and  52nd  North  Carolina,  killed  190, 
wounded  915;    total  1,105. 

Davis'  brigade,  55th  North  Carolina, 
Second,  11th  and  4<nd  Mississippi, 
killed  190,  wounded  717;   total  907. 

Brockenboroi  gh's  brigade,  22nd, 
40th  47th,  and  55th  Virginia,  killed  25, 
wounded  123;  total  148. 

Aggregate  in  Heath's  division,  killed 
411,  wounded,  1,899;   total  2,310. 

Pender's  division.  Scales'  brigade, 
15th,  16th,  32nd,  34tb  and  58th  North 
Carolina,  Idled  102;  wounded  323;  to- 
tal 425. 

Lane's  brigade.  Seventh,  18th,  2Sth, 
33rd  and  57th  Nort*i  Carolina,  killed 
41;    wounded  348;   total  389. 

McGowan's  brigade,  First  South  Car- 
olina (Provisional  ermy)  First,  12th, 
13th  and  14th  South  Carolina  Rifles, 
killed  100;  wounded  477;  total  577. 
%  Thomas'  brigade,  13th,  30th,  45th 
and  49th  Georgia,  killed  16;  wounded 
136;   total  152. 

Aggregate  of  Pender's  division,  kill- 
ed 259;    wounded  1,383;    total  1,542. 

Pickett's  division,  Kemper's  brigade, 
First,  Third,  nth  and  24th  Virginia, 
killed  58;,  wounded  356;  total  414. 

Armistead's  brigade,  Ninth,  14th. 
38th,  53rd  and  57th  Virginia,  killed  88; 
wounded  469;   total  5«i. 


Garnett's  brigade,  Eighth,  18th, 
19th,  28th  and  56th  Virginia,  killed  78; 
wounded  324;    total  402. 

Aggregate  Pickett's  division,  killed 
224;   wounded  1,140;   total  1,364. 

Hood's  division,  J  aw's  brigade, 
Fourth,  15th,  44th,  471  h  and  48th  Ala- 
bama, killed  74;  wounded  276;  total 
350. 

Anderson's  brigade  Seventh,  Ninth, 
11th,  Eighth  and  59tb  Georgia,  killed 
105,  wounded  512;  total  617. 

Robertson's  brigade,  Third  Arkan- 
sas, First  Fourth  and  Fifth  Texas, 
killed  84;  wounded  393;  total  477. 

Aggregate  in  Hoou's  division,  killed 
263;   wounded  1.191;   total  1,444. 

Losses  by  brigades,  Pettigrew's, 
Health's  division,  1,'.0E;  Davis',  897; 
Armistead's,  Pickett's  division,  548; 
Anderson's,  Huods  division,  617;  Mc- 
Gowan's,   Pender's   division,   577. 

Casualties  Longstreets  charge  at 
Gettysburg.     Recapitulation: 

Hood's  division,  three  brigades,  total 
killed  and  wounded  1,444. 

Heth's  division,  four  brigades,  Pet- 
tigrew's 1,105;  Archer's  160;  Davis' 
907;   Brockenbrough's  148;  total  2,320. 

Penders  division,  four  brigades,  Mc- 
Gowan's 577;  Thomas'  152;  Scales' 
425;  Lane's  389;  total  1,543. 

Pickett's  division,  three  brigades, 
Garnett's  402;  Armistead's  546;  Kem- 
per's 414;  total  1,364. 

Hood's  division,  three  brigades, 
Law's  350;  Anderson's  617;  Robert- 
son's 477;    total   1,444. 

Pickett's  loso  in  killed  and  wounded 
was  less  than  any  other  division  en- 
gaged, and  only  369  more  than  Petti- 
grew's brigade,  while  Heth's  division, 
Gen.  Pettigrew  commanding,  was  946 
greater  than  Pickett'--. 

Louis  C.  Young,  aide-de-camp  to 
Gen.  Johnston  Pettigie-v,  says: 

"When  we  emerged  from  the  woods 
into  the  plains  the  absence  of  the  two 
left  brigades  wore  discovered,  and  Gen. 
Pettigrew  instructed  me  to  go  for 
them  with  all  speed,  but  I  had  scarce- 
ly turned  to  do  so  wh".n  out  came  Da- 
vis with  a  rush,  out  not  Brocken- 
brough's Virginia  brigade,  and  I  asked 
Gen.  Pettigrew  if  I  should  go  for  it. 
He  replied  'No.'  that  it  might  follow, 
and  if  it  failed  to  do  so  it  would  not 
matter.  This  was  a  small  brigade  that 
had  suffered  from  frequent  change  or 
commanders,  and  had  been  so  badly 
handled  that  it  was  in  a  chaotic  state 
of  demoralization,  and  was  not  to  be 


10 


relied  upon;  it  was  virtually  of  no  val- 
ue in  a  fight.  Afterward  it  advanced  to 
the  protection  of  some  rifle  pits  in 
front  of  Seminary  Ridge,  but  it  took 
no  part  in  the  charge." 

From  the  evidence  produced  here  of 
soldiers — aye,  heroes — from  Tennes- 
see, Mississippi,  Alabama  and  North 
Carolina,  who  net  only  participated  in, 
but  advanced  co  the  front  as  far,  some 
farther,  than  any  nf  Pickett's,  Gen. 
Longstreet  must  either  have  been  ex- 
tremely biased  or  in  total  ignorance 
of  the  part  taken  and  the  heroic  fight- 
ing by  the  troops  from  these  States, 
as  his  report  to  Gen.  Lee  in  the  war 
records  is  very  misleading.  He  extols 
Pickett  and  condemns  Pettigrew  and 
Trimble's  division.  Years  afterward 
in  his  memoirs  something  came  over 
the  spirit  of  his  dream,  for  his  official 
report  must  have  been  a  dream  of  his 
or  his  favorite,  Gen.  Pickett,  which 
caused  him  to  come  nearer  the  facts, 
though  he  still  evince!  very  great  par- 
tiality for  Pickett.  He  says  after  Gen. 
Pickett  received  his  affirmative  bow 
as  an  order  for  him  to  advance  his  di- 
vision, Gen.  Pickett  accepted  the  duty 
with  seeming  confidence  of  success, 
leaped  en  his  horse  and  rode  gayly  to 
his  command.  Gen.  Pickett,  a  grace- 
ful horseman,  rat  lightly  in  the  saddle, 
his  brown  locks  flowing  over  his  shoul- 
ders. A'.so,  that  Gen.  Pickett,  finding 
the  battle  broken,  vhile  the  enemy 
was  still  re-enforcing,  called  the  troops 
off. 

New  as  to  the  facts:  Capt.  Lewis  G. 
Young,  of  Charleston  S.  C,  at  the  time 
aide-de-camp  on  Gen.  J.  J.  Pettigrew's 
staff,  says  that  Gen.  Pickett  did  not 
lead  his  men.  Capt.  Wm.  H.  Bond,  of 
Scotland  Neck,  N.  C,  in  his  histori- 
cal essay,  "Pickett  or  Pettigrew,"  says 
repeating  Gen.  Humphreys'  invitation 
to  his  staff,  itc:  "Gentlemen,  I  shall 
lead  this  charge.  I  presume,  of  course, 
you  will  want  to  ride  with  me."  Now 
compare  that  to  Pickett,  who'  was  not 
within  a  mile  of  his  column  when  they 
charged  at  Gettysburg;  Pettigrew  and 
Armistead  led  Pickett's  division  there. 

Neither  Pickett  nov  any  member  of 
his  staff,  nor  even  one  of  his  horses, 
was  touched.  Why0  Because,  dis- 
counted, and  on  the  farther  side  of  a 
hill  that  protected  them  from  the  ene- 
my's fire. 

Pettigrew  led  his  division.  Petti- 
grew was  wounded  by  a  grape  shot 
shattering  his  hand,  and  no  member 
of  his  staff  came  out  cf  the  fight  with- 


out being  wounded  or  having  his  horse 
shot  under  him.  G-m.  Trimble,  com- 
manding his  division,  was  severely 
wounded.  Here  is  further  corrobora- 
tive evidence  from  one  of  Gen.  Lee's 
staff,  a  Virginian,  Co..  Charles  S.  Ven- 
able,  Charlottesville,  Va. : 

Wilmington,  N.  C,  March  21.  1899. 

Dear  Sir — A  few  days  ago  Dr.  Isaac 
Manning  suggested  that  you  would 
probably  give  me  your  account  of 
Longstreet's  commonly  but  erroneous- 
ly called  Pickett's  charge  at  Gettys- 
burg. I  am  collecting  data  to  counter- 
act the  falsehoods  in  regard  to  that  £ 
charge,  and  Dr.  Manning  thinks  your 
description  will  be  of  material  assist- 
ance. I  think  he  said  that  Pickett  did 
not  lead  his  men.    Respectfully,  . 

JAMES  I.  METTS.         C/ 

To  Col.  Charles  S.  Venable,  Charlottes- 
ville, Va. 
Charlottesville,  Va.,  March  22,  1899. 

Dear  Sir- — Your  letter  received.  My 
health  is  not  equal  Lo  the  recapitulat- 
ing and  recalling  of  the  events  of  the 
war;  I  will  say  all  honor  can  be  given 
to  Pickett's  brigade,  although  the  gen- 
eral was  not  with  it.  Pickett's  and 
Pettigrew's  brigade  met  simultaneous- 
ly at  the  brow  of  the  hill  at  Gettys- 
burg. Pettigrew  was  well  to  the  front, 
leading  his  men.     Respectfully, 

CHAS.  S.  VENABLE, 

per  M. 

Pickett  remained  behind. 

"The  Civil  War,"  by  Frank  Moore, 
contains  a  description  of  the  battlefield 
of  Gettysburg,  etc.,  by  G.  J.  Cross,  who, 
after  describing  Longstreet's  assault, 
says: 

"In    the    bloody    ruck    hundreds    of 
their  best  officers  went  down.     It  was 
the  turning  point  of  the  grand  drama, 
and  with  the  sun,  on  the  3rd  day  of  ^ 
July,  went  down  the  sun  of  the  'Con- 
federacy' forever.    Although  known  as 
Pickett's  charge,  Gen.  Graham,  whom 
I    met    yesterday,    informs    me      that  , 
Pickett   himself   was    not    in    it.      He  *• 
describes  him  as  a  coarse,  brutal  fel- 
low,   and    says    he    treated    him    with 
the  greatest  inhumanity  after  the  bat- 
tle, whilst  wounded  and  a  prisoner  in 
his  hands. 

John  M.  Vanderslice  says: 

"As  Pickett's  division  neared  the 
wall  it  was  joined  on  its  left  by  Frye's 
Tennessee  brigade  of  Pettigrew's  line, 
and    at    the    same     time      Lowrance's 


11 


North  Carolina  brigade  rushed  from 
the  rear  and  joined  Frye's  and  Gar- 
nett's  at  the  angle  of  the  wall.  The 
two  guns  of  Cushing's  battery  at  the 
wall  were  silenced,  and  the  left  of  the 
71st  Pennsylvania  was  withdrawn  to  x 
line  with  the  right,  at  the  all  to  the 
lear.  Through  this  gap  the  Confsd- 
erates  crossed  the  wall.  Garnett  had 
teen  killed  and  Kemper  wounded.  The 
ether  guns  cf  Cushing's  Battery  A,  4th 
United  States,  were  posted  near  ciie 
clump  of  trees  near  by.  Arm: stead, 
putting  his  hat  on  his  sword  dashed 
iorward  towards  the  battery,  followed 
%  1  y  a  portion  of  his  command,  and  fell 
(~ead  by  the  side  of  Cushing,  near  the 
'copse"  of  woods,  which  was  the  ex- 
treme po'nt  reached  by  the  Confed- 
erates  in  this   charge. 

f  "Farther  to  the  right,  Marshall's 
brigade,  11th,  2Gth,  47th  and  52nd 
Ncrth  Carolina.  Davis'  2nd,  11th  and 
-12nd  Mississippi,  and  55th  North  Caro- 
lina, and  Lane's  7th,  ISth,  28th,  33rd 
and  37th  North  Carolina,  were  fight- 
ing with  Smyth's  brigade  of  Hays'  di- 
vision of  the  Second  Corps,  12th  New 
Jersey,  1st  Delaware.  14th  Connecti- 
cut, and  lOSth  New  York  Infantry  and 
Sherrill's  (formerly  Willard's)  39th, 
111th,  125th  and  126th  New  York  In- 
fantry. The  two  little  brigades  of 
Kays'  division  poured  fearful  volleys 
into  the  brave  foe,  which  compelled 
some  of  them  to  crowd  to  their  right 
upon  Pickett,  while  others  fled  or  sur- 
rendered. Woodruff's  battery  in  the 
grove  to  the  right,  moved  forward  and 
swept  the  enemy  with  canister.  The 
8th  Ohio,  on  the  skirmish  line  to  the 
right,  changed  front  forward  on  lef: 
company,  and  opened  fire  upon  the 
flank. 

"The  left  of  the  charging  column, 
under  Pettigrew  and  Trimble,  suffer- 
ed   as    severely    as    the    right,      under 

j>   Pickett. 

"Great  injustice  has  been  done  these 
troops  by  the  prevailing  erroneous 
impression    that    they    failed    to      adj 

4.  vance  with  those  of  Pickett.  Such  is 
not  the  fact.  As  they  were  formed 
behind  Seminary  Ridge,  they  had 
over  1,000  yards  to  march  under  the 
terrible  fire  to  which  they  were  ex- 
posed, while  Pickett's  division,  being 
formed  under  cover  of  the  interme- 
diate ridge  had  but  900  yards  to  march 
under  fire.  At  the  first  the  assaulting 
columns  advanced  en  echelon,  but 
when   they  reached     the     Emittsburg 


road  they  were  on  a  line.  The  left 
of  Pettigrew's  command  becoming 
first  exposed  to  the  fearful  enfilading 
fire  upon  their  left  flank  from  the  8v.h 
Ohio  and  other  regiments  of  Kays'  di- 
vision, and  of  Woodruff's  battery  and 
ether  troops,  the  men  on  that  portion 
cf  the  line  (Brockenbrough's  brigade) 
either  broke  to  the  rear  or  threw 
themselves  on  the  ground  for  protec- 
tion. But  Pettigrew's  other  brigades, 
Frye's,  Davis'  and  Marshall's,  with 
the  brigades  of  Lowrance  and  Lane, 
under  Trimble,  advanced  with  Pickett 
up  to  the  stone  wall,  and  there  fought 
desperately.  This  is  substantiated  by 
the  fact  that  the  colors  of  the  1st  and 
14th  Tennessee  and  13th  and  5th  Ala- 
bama were  captured  at  the  angle  of 
the  wall,  and  eleven  others  were 
picked  up  between  the  Enimittsburg 
road  and  the  stone  wall,  in  front  of 
Hays'  division.  Pettigrew  and  Trimble, 
with  three  of  their  brigade  comman- 
ders, Frye,  Marshall  and  Lowrance, 
were  wounded.  Davis'  brigade  lost  all 
its  field  officers,  Marshall's  all  but 
one,  and  Frye's  five  out  of  seven. 

"But  why  call  this  Pickett's  charge? 
In  this  assault  there  were  engaged 
12  Confederate  regiments.  In  Pick- 
ett's division  there  were  15  Virginia 
regiments.  In  Pettigrew's  and  Trim- 
ble's there  were  15  North  Carolina;  3 
Mississippi;  3  Tennessee;  2  Alabama, 
and  4  Virginia,  the  latter  being  Brock- 
enbrough's brigade.  In  addition  to 
the  artillery  fire,  they  encountered  y 
regiments  of  New  York;  5  of  Pennsyl- 
vania; 3  of  Massachusetts;  3  of  Ver- 
mont; 1  of  Michigan;  1  of  Maine;  1 
of  Minnesota;  1  of  New  Jersey;  1  of 
Connecticut;  1  of  Ohio;  1  of  Delaware, 
27   in   all. 

'The  troops  of  Trimble's  and  Pet- 
tigrew's divisions  behaved  as  ganantly 
as  those  of  Picfcett.  Some  prominent 
writers,  even  historians  like  Swinton 
and  Lossing,  have  said  that  the  left 
of  the  line  did  not  advance  as  was 
expected,  and  that  it  was  because  tbe 
troops  were  not  of  the  same  'fine  qual- 
ity' as  those  upon  the  right;  that  they 
were  'raw,  undisciplined,'  etc.  Yec 
but  two  days  before  these  same  sol- 
diers of  Pettigrew  and  Trimble  had 
fought  around  Reynold's  Grove  for  s'x 
[hours,  in  a  single  struggle  with  the 
First  Corps  that  is  unsurpassed  for 
I bravery  and  endurance,  and  where  so 
jmany  of  their  number  had  fallen 
There  were,  in  fact,  no  better  troops 


12 


in  the  Confederate  army  than  they. 
Is  history  repeating  itself?  If  the 
event  is  correctly  recorded,  there  were 
at  Thermopylae  300  Spartans,  700 
Thespians,  and  300  Thebans.  It  is 
sa'd  the  latter  went  over  to  the  enemy, 
but  the  Thespians  died,  to  a  man,  "at 
the  pass'  with  the  Spartans.  Yet  for 
twenty-three  centuries  epic  song  and 
story  have  well  preserved  the  memory 
of  the  Spartans,  while  the  devoted 
Thespians  are  forgotten. 

All  honor  to  the  Spartan  Virginians 
who,  with  well-dressed  ranks  and  in 
splendid  array,  moved  so  gallantly,  so 
steadily,  so  dauntlessly  across  that 
death-wept  field,  but  honor,  too,  ihe 
Thespian  North  Carolinians  and  other 
troops  who,  too,  marched  and  fought 
there  that  day.  The  valor  of  the  one 
will  not  be  dimmed  by  according  jus- 
tice to  the   other. 

"The  rebel  corps  commanders  either 
did  not  expose  themselves  as  freely 
as  our  own,  or  they  had  better  luoK', 
for  they  had  none  hit,  while  we  lost 
one,  Gen.  Reynolds,  killed;  and  two, 
Hancock  and  Sickles,  wounded.  The 
story  told  in  'Blackwood  '  by  Col. 
Freemantle,  of  the  British  army,  who 
was  present,  may  help  to  explain  it. 
He  says:  'That  carried  away  by  the 
excitement,  he  rushed  up  to  Long- 
street,  who  was  sitting  on  a  fence, 
quietly  whittling  a  stick,  whilst  watch- 
ing the  charge,  and  said:  'Gen.  Long- 
street,  isn't  th's  splendid;  I  wouldn't 
have  missed  it  for  the  world.'  'The 
devil  you  wouldn't,'  replied  Long- 
street;  'why,  don't  you  see  we  are 
getting  licked  like  hell!'  " 

Samuel  G.  Wilkinson,  of  the  North, 
says: 

"So  terrible  was  our  musketry  and 
artillery  fire,  that  when  Armistead's 
brigade  was  checked  in  its  charge, 
and  stood  reeling,  all  of  its  men  drop- 
ped their  muskets  and  crawled  on  their 


hands  and  knees  underneath  the 
stream  of  shot,  till  close  to  our  troops, 
where  they  made  signs  of  surrender- 
ing. They  passed  through  our  ranks 
scarcely  noticed,  and  slowly  went 
down  the  slope  to  the  road  in  rear.  Be- 
fore they  got  there  the  grand  charge 
of  Ewell,  solemnly  sworn  to  and  care- 
fully prepared,  had  failed." 

Equally  or  more  terrible  was  that 
sheet  of  shot  and  shell  which  passed 
over  these  magnificent  soldiers  of  Pet- 
tigrew's  and  Trimble's  division  (for 
the  artillery  on  their  flank  had  not 
been  silenced)  and  yet  they  did  not 
"drop  their  muskets  and  crawl  to  the 
enemy  to  surrender" — but  like  true 
men,  took  their  chances,  and  returned 
to  their  friends  that  they  might  fight 
another  day — for  their  homes  and 
country." 

All  honor  to  the  true  soldiers  cf 
Pickett's,  Pettigrew's  and  Trimble's 
divisions,  who  faced  that  avalanche  of 
shot  and  shell  from  the  enemy's  guns 
on  Cemetery  Hill  and  succeeded — or 
fell  wounded  or  dead  in  the  charge — 
in  reaching  and  driving  the  enemy 
from  his  wor'/s  and  guns,  and  retreat- 
ed when  flanked,  taking  the  chance  cf 
being  shot,  rather  than  spend  the  re- 
mainder of  the  war  in  Northern  pris- 
ons. All  honor  to  Hoke's  North  Caro- 
lina, and  Hay's  Louisiana  brigades, 
who  captured  and  held  for  some  time 
the  works  in  their  front  at  Gettys- 
burg. And  the  same  to  Stewart's 
(George  H.)  of  Johnston's  division, 
who  captured  the  first  line  of  works 
on  Gulp's  Hill  and  held  it  all  night  and 
next  day,  till  ordered  out.  These 
troops  advanced  in  the  open  as  far 
and  under  as  heavy  fire  as  any  of 
Longstreet's.  All  we  wish  is  the  truth 
of  history.  JAMES  I.  METTS, 

Captain  Company  G,  Third  North  Car- 
olina Infantry- 
Wilmington,  N.  C. 


Thirtieth  North  Carolina. 


True  Account  of  its  Gallant  Action  at  Chancellors- 

ville Testimony  of  Colonel  Parker  and 

General  Rhodes. 


(Reprinted  From  Wilmington,     N.     C.  Messenger.) 


Referring  to  the  statement  in  the 
1  Richmond  (Va.)  papers  of  December 
7th  that  the  Thirtith  North  Carolina 
regiment,  Colonel  F.  M.  Parker,  fought 
side  by  side  with  the  Stonewall 
brigade  at  Chancellorsville,  is  doubt- 
less a  mistake.  The  Thirtieth  North 
Carolina  regiment  alone,  and  through 
Colonel  Parker's  good  generalship, 
dash,  and  fighting  qualities  of  himself 
and  his  brave  men,  flanked  the  Yanke- 
es and  saved  the  day.  General  Rodes 
was  evidently  misinformed  about  the 
Stonewall  brigade's  charging  with  the 
Thirtieth  North  Carolina  regiment.  As 
evidence,  in  his  report  he  says  that 
the  troops  in  the  front  line  refused  to 
charge,  and  later  that  none  of  the 
troops  in  Ramseur's  rear  would  move 
up.  I  enclose  extracts  from  the  war 
record  reports  and  a  letter  from  Colo- 
nel F.  M.  Parker,  now  brigadier  gen- 
eral, Third  Brigade,  U.  C.  V.,  North 
Carolina  division,  which  corrects  the 
error.  Respectfully, 

JAMES   I.   METTS, 
Enfield,  N.  C,  January  15  1899. 
My  dear   Captain  Metts: 

Referring  to  your  kind  leter  of  Jan- 
uary 12th,  I  will  say  that  I  have  al- 
ways thought  that  Rhodes'  was  min- 
informed  as  to  the  movements  of  his 
%  division  in  the  Chancellorsville  fight. 
As  you  know,  Ramseur  detached  me 
early  in  the  morning  of  the  3rd  of 
May  (Sunday)  to  support  Major  Pe- 
gram's  battery,  with  discretionary 
orders  to  remain  with  the  battery  as 
long  as  I  thought  it  necessary,  then 
to  rejoin  him  or  fight  upon  my  own 
responsibility.  After  leaving  the  bat- 
tery I  attempted  to  rejoin  Ramseur, 
directed  by  what  I  took  to  be  his  fir- 


ing, on  my  route,  I  came  upon  a  con- 
siderable body  of  troops,  lying  in  an 
irregular  way,  observing  no  align- 
ment, I  asked  what  troops  they  were 
was  told  that  they  were  Jones'  Vir- 
ginia brigade.  I  asked  for  General 
Jones,  and  was  told  that  he  was  not 
on  the  field.  I  then  asked  why  they 
did  not  go  farward,  and  told  them  that 
every  man  wai  needed  at  the  front. 
The  answer  was,  they  had  no  orders 
to  advance.  I  then  invited  them  to 
join  me;  that  I  intended  to  charge  a 
line  of  breastworks,  which  I  discover- 
ed on  my  right,  and  occupied  by  the 
enemy.  Net  a  man  joined  me.  There 
was  more  tnan  one  brigade  of  these 
troops.  My  men  moved  over  them. 
We  attacked  the  works,  drove  the 
enemy  from  them.  After  resting  long 
enough  to  get  my  men  in  good  trim, 
I  charged  a  column  of  yankees,  which 
was  moving  to>  attack  our  troops  on 
their  flank.  I  drove  them  back,  cap- 
turing a  good  many  prisoners.  I  then 
moved  in  the  dirceion  of  the  Chancel- 
lors house.  Being  so  far  in  advance 
of  any  of  our  troops,  Stewart,  tak- 
ing me  for  a  yankeet  regiment,  opened 
two.  pieces  of  artillery  on  me,  and  I 
was  saved  only  by  the  act  of  one  of 
his  aids,  Captain  Randolph,  who  ran 
his  horse  down  the  plank  road  near 
enough  to  me  to  satisfy  himself,  and 
so  reported  to  his  chief.  If  the  Stone- 
wall brigade  joined  me  any  time  dur- 
ing that  dioy,  I  never  knew  it.  I  so 
wrote  General  Cox,  as  soon  as  his 
piece  on  Ramseur  was  published.  Cox 
wrote  me  that  he  forwarded  my  letter 
to  the  publishers  of  the  Southern 
Historical  papers.  Referring  to  re- 
collections of  Ramseur's  order  to  kick 
the  fellows  as  they  passed  over  them, 


14 


General  Grimes  told  me  thrit  he  him-; 
self   stamped  them   en  the   back  with 
all  his  might  as  he  walked  over  them. 
Thanking  you  for  your  kind  interest, 
1  am,  Captain, 

"  Very  truly  and   fraternally  yours, 

F.  M.  PARKER. 

War   Record    Reports. 

Major  General  R.  E.  Rodes,  in  his 
report  of  the  battle  of  Chancellors- 
ville,  says:  Ramseur,  after  vainly  : 
urging  the  troops  in  possession  cf  the 
iirst  line  of  intrenchments  to  move 
forward,  obtained  premission  to  pass 
ihem,  and,  dashing  over  the  works, 
charged  the  second  intrenched  line  in 
the  most  brilliant  style.  The  strug- 
gle at  this  point  was  long  and  ob- 
stinate, but  the  charge  on  the  left 
of  the  plank  road  at  this  time  caused 
the  enemy  to  give  way  on  his  left,  and 
this,  combined  wiih  the  unflinching 
determination  of  his  men,  carried  the 
day  and  gave  him  possession  of  the 
works.  Not  being  supported,  he  was 
exposed  still  to  a  galling  fire  from 
the  right,  with  great  danger  of  being 
flanked.  Notwithstanding  repeated 
efforts  made  by  him,  and  by  myself 
in  person,  none  of  the  troops  in  his 
rear  would  move  up  until  the  old 
Stonewall  brigade  arrived  on  the 
ground  and  gallantly  advanced  in  con- 
junction with  the  Thirtieth  North 
Carolina  regiment.  Colonel  F.  M.  Par- 
ker, of  Ramseur's  brigade,  which  had 
been  detached  to  support  a  battery 
and  was  new  on  its  return.  In  men- 
tioning those  who  distinguished  them- 
selves for  gallant  and  meritorious 
conduct  in  this  battle,  he  names 
among  the  officers  Colonel  F.  M.  Par- 
ker. 

Brigadier  General  S.  D.  Ramseur,  in 
his  report  of  the  Chancellorsville  cam- 
paign May  23,  1863,  says:  Saturday 
night  our  division  occupied  the  fast 
lina  of  batle  within  the  intrenchments 
from  which  the  routed  corps  of  Siegel 
had  fled  in  terror.  My  brigade  was 
placed  perpendicular  to  the  plank  road 
the  left  resting  on  the  road,  General 
Doles  on  my  left.  I  placed  Colonel  F. 
M.  Parker.  Thirtieth  North  Carolina, 
on  the  right  of  my  brigade;  Colonel 
R.  T.  Bennett,  Fourteenth  North  Caro- 
oiina,  on  the  right  cenre;  Colonel  W. 
R.  Cox,  Senccnd  North  Carolina,  left 
cenre.  and  Colonel  75ryan  Grimes, 
Fourth  North  Carolina,  on  the  left. 
Sunday,  May  3rd,  the  division,  being  in 


the  third  line  of  battle,  advanced 
about  9  o'clock  to  che  support  of  the 
second  line.  After  proceeding  about 
one-fourth  of  a  mile,  I  was  applied  to 
by  Major  W.  J.  Pegram  for  a  sup- 
port to  his  battery,  when  I  detached 
Colonel  Parker,  Thirtieth  North  Caro- 
lina, for  this  purpose  with  orders  to 
advance  obliquely  to  his  front  and 
felt,  and  rejon  me  after  his  support 
should  he  be  no  longer  needed,  or  to 
fight  his  regiment  as  circumstances 
might  require.  I  continued  to  advance 
to  the  first  line  of  breastworks,  from 
which  the  enemj  had  been  driven  the 
day  before,  and  behind  which  I  found  ^ 
a  portion  of  Paxon's  (Stonewall) 
brigade  and  (J.  R.)  Jones  brigade,  of 
Trumbie's  division.  Knowing  that  a 
general  advance  had  been  forward. 
Not  a  man  moved.  I  then  reported  $ 
this  state  of  things  to  Major  General 
Stuart,  who  directed  me  to  assume 
command  of  these  troops  and  compel 
tbem  to  advance.  This  I  essayed  to 
do,  after  fruitless  efforts,  ascertained 
that  General  Jones  was  not  on  the 
field,  and  that  Colonel  (Y.  A.)  Gar- 
rett had  oeen  killed.  I  reported  again 
to  General  Stuart,  who  was  near,  and 
requested  permssion  to  run  over  the 
troops  in  my  front,  which  was  cheer- 
fully granted.  At  the  command, 
"Forward."  my  brigade,  with  a  shout, 
cleared  the  breastworks  and  charged 
the  en  em:  .  The  Fourth  North  Caro- 
lina (Colonel  Grimes)  and  seven  com- 
panies of  the  Second  North  Carolina 
(Colonel  Cox'  drove  the  enemy  be- 
fore them  until  they  had  taken  the 
last  line  of  his  works,  which  they 
held  under  a  severe,  direct  and  en- 
filading fire  repulsing  several  assaults 
on  this  portion  of  our  front.  The 
Fourteenth  North  Carolina  (Colonel 
Bennett)  and  the  three  companies  of 
the  Second  were  compelled  to  halt 
some  one  hundred  and  fiftv  or  two 
hundred  yards  in  rear  of  the  troops  < 
iu st  mentioned,  for  the  reason  that 
the  troops  on  my  right  had  failed  to 
come  up  and  the  enemy  was  in  heavy 
force  on  mv  right  flank.  Had  Cornel  ^ 
Bennett  advanced  the  enemy  could 
have  turned  my  right  to  a  horrible 
enfilading  Are,  by  which  I  lost  severe- 
ly. I  saw  the  danger  threatening  my 
rieht,  and  sent  several  times  to  Jones' 
brigade  to  come  to  my  assistance,  and 
I  also  went  back  twice  mvself,  and 
exhorted  and  ordered  it  (officers  and 
men)  to  fill  up  the  gap  (some  five  or 
six  hundred  yards)    on  my  right,  hut 


15 


all  in  vain.  I  then  reported  to  Gen- 
eral Rhodes  that  unless  support  was 
sent  to  drive  the  enemy  from  my  right 
1  would  have  to  fall  back. 

In  the  meantime,  Colonel  Parker,  of 
the  Thirtieth  North  Carolina,  ap- 
proaching my  position  from  the  bat- 
tery on  the  right,  suddenly  fell  upon 
the  flank  and  handsomely  repulsed  a 
heavy  column  of  the  enemy  who  were 
moving  to  get  in  my  rear  flank,  some 
?00  or  400  of  them  surrendering  to 
him  as  prisoners  of  war.  The  enemy 
still  held  strong  position  in  the  ravine 
on  my  right,   so  that  the  Fourteenth 

*  North  Carolina  and  the  three  compa- 
nies of  the  Second  North  Carolina 
could  not  advance.  The  enemy  discov- 
ered this  situation  of  affairs  and  push- 

^  ed  a  brigade  to  the  right  and  rear  of 
Colonel  Grimes,  and  seven  companies 
of  Colonel  Cox's  (Second  North  Caro- 
lina) with  the  intention  of  capturng 
their  commands.  This  advance  was 
made  under  a  terrific  fire  of  musketry 
and  artillery.  The  move  necessitated 
a  retrograde  movement  on  the  part  of 


Colonels  Grimes  and  Cox,  which  was 
executed  in  order,  but  with  the  loss  of 
some  prisoners,  who  did  not  hear  the 
command  to  retire.  Colonel  Bennett 
held  his  position  until  ordered  to  fall 
back,  and  in  common  with  the  others, 
to  replenish  his  empty  cartridge 
boxes.  The  enemy  did  not  halt  at  this 
position,  but  retired  to  his  battery, 
from  which  he  was  quickly  driven, 
Colonel  Parker,  of  the  Thirtieth  North 
Carolina  sweeping  up  over  it  with  the 
troops  on  my  right. 

I  cannot  close  without  mentioning 
the  conspicuous  and  gallantry  and 
efficiency  of  my  regimental  command- 
ers, Colonel  Parker,  of  the  Thirtieth 
North  Carolina,  who  was  detached 
during  the  fight  of  Sunday,  to  support 
a  battery,  and  having  accomplished 
that  object  moved  forward  on  his  own 
responsibility,  and  grealty  contributed 
to  wrest  the  enemy's  stronghold  at 
Chancellorsville  from  their  grasp,  as 
well  as  prevent  their  threatened  de- 
monstrations upon  the  right  of  my 
brigade. 


Last  Shot  at  Appomattox 

Georgia   Troops  Laying  Claim  to  the  Glory  that  Be- 
long to  North  Carolina  Troops Testimony  that 

Settles  the  Question  as  to  Who  Fired  the  Last  Gun 
in  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia. 


(Reprinted  From  Wilmington,     N.   C,  Messenger.) 


Wilmington,  N.  C,  Feb.  2  1899. 
Messrs.  Editor: — The  November 
1898  number  of  the  Confederate  Vet- 
eran, page  524,  contains  an  article  by 
Capt.  Wm.  Kaigler  of  Dawson,  Ga., 
and  a  letter  by  General  C.  A.  Evans, 
claiming  that  General  Evans'  brigade 
gained  the  last  victory,  and  that  Capt. 
Kaigler's  picked  corps  of  sharpshoot- 
ers fired  the  last  shot,  burned  the  last 
grain  of  powder,  and  directed  the  last 
confederate  bullet  from  the  great  old 
army  of  General  Lee.  Being  at  the 
time  on  Major  General  Bryan  Grimes' 
staff,  though  not  in  that  charge  my- 
self, I  heard  many  perfectly  reliable 
soldiers  then  and  s'nce,  state  that 
General  W.  R.  Cox's  biigade  of  Grimes 
division,  fired  the  last  volley  of  the 
army  of  Northern  Virginia  at  Ap- 
pomattox C.  H.,  and  have  never  heard 
it  contradicted  until  this  article  in 
the  Veteran.  If  I  mistake  not,  Gen- 
eral Jno.  B.  Gorden,  in  his  famous 
lecture  of  the  war  made  the  same 
statement  and,  further  that  General 
Sheridan,  on  hearing  this  firing  of 
Cox's  brigade,  asked  him  what  it 
meant,  and  threatened  to  renew  hos- 
tilities. I  herewith  hand  you  an  ex- 
tract from  Col.  W.  A.  Brown's  "His- 
tory of  the  First  North  Carolina  In- 
fantry," a  statement  from  W.  R.  Ke- 
nan, adjutant  of  Forty-third  N.  C.  in- 
fantry, and  General  W.  R.  Cox's  nar- 
rative of  the  battle  on  the  9th,  of 
April,  1865.  Much  more  corroborative 
evidence  of  the  above  can  be  furn- 
ished. 

Respect:  fully, 

JAMES   I.    METTS. 
Late   Capt,   and   A.   I.   G.   Grimes   Div. 

2nd  Corps  A.  N.  V. 


Col.  Hamilton  A.  Brown,  in  his  his-  # 
tory  of  the  First  North  Carolina  In- 
fantry, says:  "The  march  from  Pe- 
tersburg to  Appomattox  was  but  a 
series  of  engagements  until  the  9th. 
This  brigade  was  commanded  by  Gen. 
W.  R.  Cox,  who,  as  his  men  were  re- 
tiring, ordered  a  halt  and  the  com- 
mand "right  about  face"  was  given. 
It  was  promptly  obeyed,  and  once 
more  and  for  the  last  time  these  few 
ragged,  foot  sore  and  half  starved 
North  Carolinians  stood  in  the 
strength  of  their  manhood,  with  the 
men  they  had  met  and  had  driven 
back  on  many  a  bloody  field.  Once 
more  the  command  rang  out,  in  the 
clear  voice  of  the  intrepid  Cox,  "ready 
aim,  fire."  And  the  last  volley  fired 
by  the  army  of  Northern  Virginia 
was  by  North  Carolina's  troops.  This 
regiment,  among  the  number,  defeat- 
ed, but  not  dishonored  and  so  should 
we,  as  true  sons  of  Carolina,  in  the 
education  of  our  children,  teach  them 
to  ever  refuse  that  savage  lesson — 
"that  might  makes  right." 

« 


Wilmington,  N.  C,  Feb.  3,  1899. 
Capt.  James  I.  Mets,  City. 

Dear  Sir: — Referring  to  the  "last*- 
volley  fired  at  Appomattox,"  C.  H. 
Va.,  on  the  morning  of  April  9th,  1865 
my  recollection  is  on  retiring  in  col- 
umn of  fours  from  the  field,  our  bri- 
gade (Grimes)  passed  about  sixty 
feet  in  rear  of  Cox's  brigade  which 
was  in  line  cf  battle.  Gen.  Cox,  mount- 
ed on  his  horse,  gave  the  comand  in 
clear,  distinct  tones,  "ready,  aim, 
fire,"  and  the  order  was  so  well  excut- 


17 


ed  that  it  sounded  like  the  report  of 
one   gun.    This   was   the   last. 
Yours  truly, 

WM.   R.   KENAN, 
Late  Adjt.  43rd  N.  C.  Infy. 

Grimes  Brigade, 
Grimes  Division, 
2nd  Corps  A.  N.  V. 


Last  Charge  at  Appomattox. 

Gen.  W.  R.  Cox.) 

Soon  after  the  civil  war  I  prepared 

a  careful  and  accurate  account  of  the 

last  charge  of  the  army  of  Northern 

Virginia    at    Appomattox.      This      was 

*  published  in  the  public  press  of  the 
state,  while  the  participants  in  this 
charge  of  Grimes'  division  were 
living  and  could  testify  to  the  facts  if 

jft  questioned.  So  far  as  I  am  informed 
they    passed    unchallenged. 

The  present  statement  is  prepared 
from  my  recollection  of  facts,  pub- 
lished as  before  stated.  Owing  to  the 
disaster  to  our  army  at  Sailor's  Creek 
and  the  hasty  abondonment  of  our 
wagon  train  and  supplies,  the  army 
was  'organized  into  two  corps,  com- 
mand, respectively,  by  Longstreet  and 
Gordon.  On  April  eighth  our  poorly 
clad  and  starving  soldiers  marched 
on  toward  Appomattox  with  but  little 
interference.  It  was  the  purpose  of 
Lee  to  move  on  to  Danvihe  and  join 
forces  with  Johnston,  who  was  then 
retiring  before  Sherman  in  North 
Carolina.  Grant  anticipated  his  pur- 
pose and  by  means  of  railroad  facili- 
ties and  interior  lines  was  enabled  to 
mass  a  large  part  of  his  troops  in  our 
front.  On  the  seventh  Grant  had 
written  and  proposed  Lee's  surrender, 
which  was  declined,  and  again  on  the 
eighth  he  renewed  the  offer  to  which 
Lee  replied  on  the  ninth,  and  agreed 
to  meet  him  at  ten  o'clock  to  ascer- 
tain the  terms  he  would  propose,  for 
1*upon  their  character  depended  the 
nature  of  his  decision.  On  the  even- 
•  ing  of  the  eighth,  to  rest  his  weary 
and   worn   troops  Lee   ordered   a  halt 

^near  Appomattox  Court  House.  Be- 
fore day  Gordon  moved  his  corps  with 
Grimes  division  in  front  through,  and 
halted  it  on  an  elevation  beyond  the 
village.  While  resting  on  our  arms 
some  of  my  men,  notably  privates  J. 
C.  Scarborough  and  W.  H.  Pace,  were 
parching  corn  in  little  improvised 
fires,  when  skirmishing  in  our  front 
began.  Here  I  received  orders  from 
Gordon  to  throw  forward  the  divi- 
sion,  which   was   done   in   echelon   by 


brigade  at  intervals  of  one  hundred 
paces.  With  a  spirit  which  knew  no 
abatement,  the  troops  sprang  forward 
with  glorious  ealon.  Soon  we  were  en- 
gaged with  cavalry,  mounted  and  dis- 
mounted, supported  by  artillery, 
which  after  a  hot  encounter  we  swept 
from  before  us,  after  the  loss  of  some 
of  my  men,  chiefly  from  artillery. 
The  only  support  on  my  left  was 
Wise's  brigade,  then  reduced  to  a 
mere  skeleton  line.  Very  soon  we 
engaged  infantry  troops,  and  after 
some  captures  a  Federal  officer  was 
brought  to  me,  from  whom  I  learned 
that  Ord's  whole  corps  was  in  my 
front.  In  the  meantime  Gordon  had 
sought  Gen.  Lee  and  acquainted  him 
with  the  overwhelming  force  in  his 
front,  whereupon  I  halted  the  divison, 
when  Capt.  London,  of  Grimes'  staff, 
rode  up  and  said:  "General  Grimes 
directs  you  to  retire."  As  I  sought  to 
retire  I  discovered  there  was  great 
danger  of  my  command  being  sur- 
rounded and  captured.  I  therefore 
directed  my  aide,  Lieutenant  James 
S.  Battle,  to  summon  the  regimental 
commanders  of  my  brigade  and  meet 
me,  while  still  withdrawing,  at  their 
centre.  I  unfolded  to  them  my  pur- 
pose, which  was,  while  still  retiring 
to  face  the  brigade  about,  charge  with 
the  "rebel  yell"  to  the  top  of  an  eleva- 
tion beyond  which  the  enemy  were  ad- 
vancing, there  halt,  fire  by  brigade, 
face  about  and  double  quick  to  the 
rear.  This  precaution  was  given  be- 
cause amidst  the  confusion  of  battle, 
troops  do  not  always  catch  the  orders, 
and  to  make  this  movement  a  success, 
it  had  to  be  executed  with  celerity 
and  intelligence.  The  order  was 
given,  and  as  the  enemy  saw  us  ap- 
proach, apprehending  a  hand  to  hand 
conflict,  they  commenced  to  deploy 
with  great  alacrity  and  precision, 
when  the  brigade  promptly  halted  and 
as  promptly  fired  into  the  deploying- 
line  which  fell  to  the  ground  as  we 
fired.  Without  losing  seconds  my 
brigade  faced  about,  double  quickly, 
rallied  on  the  division  before  the 
enemy  recovered  from  the  shock. 
But  other  troops  too  numerous  to 
encounter  were  rapidly  enveloping 
this  gallant  brigade.  Thereupon  I  de- 
ployed the  second  and  parts  of  the 
first  and  third  regiments  as  skirmis- 
ers  to  cover  our  retreat,  and  these 
troops  fired  the  last  round  in  that 
grand  old  army  whose  fortunes  we 
had    for   four    long    and    weary    years 


18 


shared.  Before  this  action,  without 
our  knowledge  the  flag  of  truce  was 
already  accepted.  As  we  march- 
ed toward  the  main  body  of  the  corps, 
Gordon  met  us  and  exclaimed,  "Grand- 
ly and  gloriously  done."  In  his 
autobiography  Sherman  says  he  was 
so  enraged  by  this  fire,  kept  up  after 
the  flag  of  truce  was  accepted,  he 
was  tempted  to  renew  the  battle. 
While  my  losses  were  severe,  under 
the     cirumstances     our     escape     was 


most  fortunate.  This  account  is  in- 
tended to  briefly  outline  one  part  of 
the  last  days  at  Appomattox.  In  com- 
mon with  the  survivors  of  those  days 
of  hallowed  memory,  we  aviod  when 
practicable,  controversy  as  to  past 
events,  and  hail  with  pleasure  the 
present  glory  of  our  common  country, 
and  trust  that  by  wisdom,  intelligence 
and  patriotism,  each  tomorrow  may 
find  her  greater  and  greater. 


u.-^. 


